Parents of athletes

It is one thing to enjoy sports as an athlete and another as the parent of an athlete, which I’m sure is the same reasons that brought many of my friends to the Don Bosco Technology Center campus last Saturday for two events.

There was the Aboitiz Cup at the football field and there was the 1st Metro Cebu Inter-School Basketball Tournament at the new gym.

All over the campus there were parents, who were actively supporting their young athletes from the different schools in many ways.

The opening of the basketball tournament brought to DBTC some of my friends, whose kids go to the different schools in Cebu.

Ruben Catan was there to support his son Xavier or Bro to his friends, who at 12 years old already stands 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Joel Chan, star point guard of the Cebu Eastern College batch ’85 team, was also there to be with his son, who plays for the Philippine Christian Gospel School.

Robert Lim, another player in the CEC alumni league, was there with his boy, who plays for CEC.

There was also Nelson Cabaluna, who I used to work with during my days as a reporter at GMA-7 Cebu, who was there to accompany his son, who plays for the mini team of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Over at the football field, Odys Suarez played doting dad to his son, who plays for the Guiseppe Football Club and there were many other parents too, who never fail to be there for their kids’ games.

Sports is one of those activities that bind families together and even if I don’t have a child playing in the competitions, seeing fellow sporting parents take time for their kids was a very happy sight.

If you haven’t found time for your kids when they play sports, try to do so and you won’t regret being there.

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I received a text message from Edward Hayco, director of Team Cebu City Dancesport last weekend updating me about what they have been doing.

Here’s Edward’s message: “Just want to update you with what we’ve been doing. The team organized a year-round dancesport and hip-hop barangay competition.

“We’re on our third leg from Pardo, Apas and today Mambaling, etc. until all barangays will be covered. Competition is open to all Cebu City residents, no entry fee is required. Everything is free.

“This is sponsored by ML Kwarta Padala and Go Cing Hai and Martina Foundation. 200 athletes joined today’s competition and the complex is packed. Since next week is All Souls Day and week after is national competition in Manila, next barangay competition will be on November 15, Saturday, 1 p.m.

“Regards and thank you for always being there for us!”

While every one is still talking about what they’ll do for sports, Edward and his wife Eleanor along with the dancesport team are working to spread the good news.

Keep up the good work and may your tribe increase.